A MAN subject to two suspended sentences went on a mini-crime spree trying to steal from parked cars, just weeks after his previous reprieve from a prison stretch.

Magistrates passed an eight-week sentence, suspended for a year, on Karl Taylor, for driving while disqualified, last January.

He then went before Durham Crown Court in October for possessing an offensive weapon in violence outside his home in High Northgate, Darlington, on August 6, for which he received a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Despite having the two suspended sentences hanging over him, Taylor was back before the court for a series of offences targeting parked vehicles in Darlington, in the early hours of November 16.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said Taylor approached a Volkswagen Passat in Abbotsfield Road and tried unsuccessfully to open the boot.

A short time later he entered an insecure Ford Focus on the drive way of a home in Abbotsfield Road, taking an iPod nano and two usb leads.

Mr Baker said Taylor moved on to Doxford Grove where he entered another insecure Ford Focus, stealing a leather card holder, from which he took a debit card used to buy two meals at a nearby fast food restaurant.

It was used for two more contactless payments that morning, but the user could not be identified.

Taylor was arrested on November 26 and told police he could not recall where he was on the morning of the offences due to heavy cannabis use.

Although he was show incriminating cctv footage linking him to some of the offences, he denied it was him.

He claimed he was given the card by a third-party and told to buy the meals.

When he went before magistrates last month, however, he indicated guilty pleas to the two thefts from cars, vehicle interference, plus fraud by false representation, relating to the purchased food.

The court heard he has 12 previous convictions for theft, among 59 past offences.

Mark Styles, mitigating, said Taylor was, “out and about” that night despite having been knocked off his bike, suffering a broken ankle not long beforehand.

Mr Styles added that Taylor has struggled to overcome drug misuse, but seems to be, “trying to sort himself out,” and wanted to apologise for his behaviour that night.

Jailing him with sentences totalling a year and six weeks, Judge Jonathan Carroll said despite his offending being property-related, it still had a “significant impact” on the affected victims.